Tag: syracuse

NYS Music Presents Saturday Nights in July at Funk ‘N Waffles Downtown

Beginning this Saturday, July 2, NYS Music will present a diverse lineup of artists at Funk ‘N Waffles in Downtown Syracuse. Cory Henry, the Blind Spots, Calliope Musical and the Zen Rites kick off the new summer series this weekend.

The Grammy award-winning Cory Henry is a one-of-a-kind, multi-instrumental musician and producer. He dabbles in a variety of genres with artists such as Yolanda Adams, Sara Bareilles, P. Diddy, Kirk Franklin, Kenny Garrett, Robert Glasper, Derrick Hodge, Shaun Kingston, Donald Lawrence and Michael McDonald. Yet, it’s his upbeat, jazzy tunes and captivating R&B performances that have caught the eyes of fans, while playing as a member of Snarky Puppy. Don’t miss a chance to hear his new hits from The Revival in person.

The Blind Spots are sure to get your hands in the air and your feet moving along to a pop-indie beat. This female-fronted, Ithaca-based band offers solid rhythm, an array of eclectic keyboard sounds and inventive electric guitar stylings.

If there has ever been a folk band that made you feel like you were at a psychedelic party, Calliope Musical is the one. This group’s high-energy performance engages the crowd to create a beautiful interaction between the dance floor and the stage.

The Zen Rites are an alternative folk duo from Ithaca who perform in hopes to spread positivity and consciousness. This couple began making music in 2015, with plans of releasing their first EP of lyrically driven songs full of passion and depth in the near future.

7/9 Hippie Ball II w/Pearly Baker’s Best, Solar Garlic, Two Hour Delay @ 8 p.m.

The authentic Grateful Dead tribute band, Pearly Baker’s Best, never plays the same show twice. Covering songs that span more than 50 years of timeless lyrics and jams, any fan would enjoy their performance.

Solar Garlic — another tribute band, but this time it’s Phish, coming right out of Syracuse. Driven by the improvisational thrills that make Phish jams such an epic live performance, these four members pay proper tribute to their favorite band.

Syracuse natives, Two Hour Delay, are an Americana rock jam band that has opened for Rusted Root, Donna the Buffalo, Floodwood, New Riders of the Purple Sage and Enter the Haggis. Influenced by rock and roll, blues, folk, country and bluegrass, they play a mix of tasteful original songs and covers.

7/16 Funknut, Danille Ponder and The Tomorrow People @ 10 p.m.

Funknut plays as a rotating cast of funk, soul and rock and roll. Funknut and its members have opened for and played with the Temptations, Bernie Worrell of Parliament Funkadelic and Talking Heads, Robert Randolph, John Medeski, the Four Tops, Soulive, KRS-One, Particle, Alan Evans and Break Science.

Titled one of the “Top Ten Bands to Watch” by CityPaper, Danielle Ponder and the Tomorrow People transcends musical genres with a blast of deep, powerful groove and soul. Danielle’s style and charismatic vocals has landed them with powerhouses such as George Clinton, Ledisi and the Roots. The Rochester native states, “Soul music is something you feel,” she says. “It gives you goosebumps.” In combination with her groovy band, their performance is both enchanting and seductive — this honest stage presence is sure to make you melt.

7/23 Rabbit in the Rye w/special guest Savannah and the Kings, Jackson Cavalier and The Fevertones @ 9 p.m.

Joseph Mettler on guitar and harmonica, Alexander Lavon on bass and Brendan O’Connor on percussion and mandolin make up a progressive folk rock trio from Hamilton, NY. Rabbit in the Rye’s fables and unique way of storytelling combined with a bittersweet, poetic sound reminds listeners of a forgotten American image with fantastic realism.

At a young age, Savannah began telling stories through lyrics exploding with imagery and passion that was well beyond her years. Her deep, expressive songs have caught the attention of artists such as Emmylou Harris, 10,000 Maniacs, Harpeth Rising, Field Report and award-winning Canadian country music singer-songwriter Ryan Cook and landed her opportunities to play with Buffalos Philharmonic Orchestra. After two brilliant solo tours, she extended her success as a harmony vocalist and rhythm guitarist with 10,000 Maniancs. In April, she recorded her latest album Bold and Unsteady with her new band, Savannah and the Kings, and is ready to share her passions with new and old fans alike.

Jackson Cavalier and the Fevertones has been voted Rochester’s Best Busker(s) for the past two years and holds the title of house band at The Daily Refresher. Starting up as street performers, they experimented with horns, strings, percussion and harmony and have now played over one hundred gigs since their formation in 2013. Their consistency has paid off as they now have two studio albums and a high demand trailing after their Indie Folk sound.

7/30 Castle Creek w/special guest SimpleLife @ 9 p.m.

Local barnyard burners Kim Monroe and Chris Eves of Castle Creek are a powerful duo out of Syracuse. Using lyrically powerful ballads and a blues/jam influenced musicianship to captivate audiences throughout upstate New York all while maintaining their roots of familiar classic rock artists such as Led Zeppelin, the Grateful Dead and Pink Floyd.

Starting as a trio of acoustic artists in 2001, this group has evolved from three part harmonies into a critically acclaimed band. You can catch them performing in different numbers, but they will always leave you wanting more. Two of the original members, Mike Frisina and Ben Lucas, have opened up 2 Bros. Studios where they write and record music consistently. Simple Life’s third album will be released this summer.

July 1, 2016
Dave Matthews Band Gets Sexy With Sold Out Lakeview Amphitheater

Dave Matthews Band brought an eclectic mix of its unique catalog of songs and covers to an enthusiastic crowd of 17,500 at the Lakeview Amphitheater in Syracuse on Wednesday June 22. The show marks the first sold out show at the newly opened amphitheater.

Fans were a bit apprehensive about the traffic, the no tailgating policy and the venue’s ability to handle the large crowd, but the venue seemed to do a good job managing traffic. Shuttles were running constantly to and from alternate parking locations as far away as downtown Syracuse. The no tailgating policy was generously overlooked. People were having a good time enjoying a few drinks but it didn’t appear that anyone was out of control. However, a no pop-up tent and no grill policy was strictly enforced. Some lighting could be added to improve visibility toward the exits and in the parking lots and they definitely need to add some additional porta-potties. The sound quality and the views are the best I’ve experienced compared to other amphitheaters in the northeast.

Dave Matthews Band took the stage around 8:30 and opened with their classic tune “Warehouse,” followed by “When the World Ends” and mega hit “Crash Into Me.” It seemed as if every single person in the audience knew every song as they belted out the words with every breath. The audience continued singing and dancing through “Don’t Drink the Water.” The band slowed things down with “Stay or Leave” and immediately got the crowd revved up again with fan favorite “#41,” where Boyd Tinsley had the audience cheering as he showcased his awe inspiring violin skills.

As the band is currently on tour celebrating their 25th anniversary before they go on a hiatus in 2017, they had no problem celebrating as fans jumped up and down, pumped their fists and occasionally took the lead singing parts of songs. At one point the fans lead a chant of “Thank You For Letting Me Be Myself,” to which Matthews took a step back and treated the audience to his trademark impish grin and eyebrow raise.

Between songs, Matthews was relatively quiet, thanking the audience and remarking about the beauty of the venue. He did leave fans hopeful by stating, “I hope we can come back here and play for y’all again sometime.” The celebration continued as the band paced through a nineteen song set. Stefan Lessard rocked a beautiful six string bass for the occasion. Carter Beauford, smiling as always, pounded the drums so fast at some points it looked like his hands were vibrating. Guitarist Tim Reynolds zipped up and down the fret board, producing intricate and unique sounds while making it look completely effortless.

Jeff Coffin (saxophone) and Rashawn Ross (trumpet) were joined by saxophonist and old friend, Sam Kininger. Kininger has played with Ross in Lettuce and Soulive’s Shady Horns Section. The horn section showed they are more than just an accompaniment as they blared in perfect harmony through “What Would You Say” and “Jimi Thing.”

Matthews showed his silly side as he borrowed a party hat from an audience member and wore it through the band’s almost hilarious version of Prince cover “Sexy Mother F*cker” to end the main part of the set. You would think that after almost two and a half hours that the fans would start to fade, but instead they roared, cheered and many chanted their “wish list” song hoping the band would oblige and play it during the encore. Shouts of “Two Step,” “Halloween,” and “Watchtower” rang out over the deafening cheers of the crowd. It is this intense level of excitement and anticipation that proves why Dave Matthews Band is a summer ritual for so many fans.

The band took a short break and ended the evening with a two song encore that included “The Song That Jane Likes” and fan favorite “Tripping Billies.” Carter Beauford tossed out buckets of drum sticks as fans roared and begged for more.

Set list:

Warehouse, When the World Ends, Crash Into Me, Sugar Will, Don’t Drink the Water, Stay or Leave, #41, Samurai Cop, Grey Street, Satellite, Break Free, Lie in Our Graves, Shake Me Like a Monkey, Typical Situation, What Would You Say (with Sam Kininger), Jimi Thing (with Sam Kininger), Sexy M.F. (Prince cover) (with Sam Kininger)

Encore:

The Song that Jane Likes, Tripping Billies

[FinalTilesGallery id=’838′]

June 29, 2016
Good Vibrations: Brian Wilson Breezes Into Syracuse This Summer

This summer, the famed Beach Boys leader, Brian Wilson, breezes into Syracuse for a good vibrations performance at the Great New York State Fair. The legendary songwriter’s tour stop in Central New York is part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the group’s iconic 1966 album, Pet Sounds, in which Wilson will perform in its entirety at Chevy Court on Aug. 29.

A follow-up to 1965’s The Beach Boys Today! Wilson’s Pet Sounds became his masterpiece, and at the time, it was one of the most expensive albums produced, at a cost of more than $70,000. Although the album was not as commercially successful in the United States as it was in the United Kingdom, it is now considered to be one of the most influential, and first experimental, concept albums. The 36-minute psychedelic surf rock record — inspired by the Beatles’ Rubber Soul — moved the group from on-the-surface lyrics of girls, cars and California living to a more introspective side. On revisiting the album, Wilson, 73, told the Nottingham Post, “It was a happy time in my life. I was young and creative, and it brings back a lot of good memories for me.”

On June 10, Capitol Records released a 50th anniversary collector’s edition of Pet Sounds that features a four CD/Blu-ray audio versions in a hardbound book and 180-gram vinyl editions in both mono and stereo, plus session outtakes, alternate mixes and unreleased live recordings. Touring in support of it, Wilson will be joined by former bandmates Al Jardine and Blondie Chaplin to recreate the Beach Boys’ 11th studio album that features popular songs like “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” “God Only Knows,” “Sloop John B” and “Caroline, No.” (Listen to the full album here.) Tour dates during this anniversary run also include stops at the Ottawa Jazz Festival on July 3, Toronto on July 4, Burlington, VT, on July 6, New York City’s Beacon Theater on Sept. 24 and at the University at Buffalo Center for the Arts on Sept. 28. The Chevy Court concert is set for Mon., Aug. 29 at 8 p.m.; the show is free with admission to the fair.

According to Syracuse.com, Troy Waffner, acting fair director, dubbed the concert as a “once-in-a-lifetime event,” adding that, “this will be a magical night for fans of that band and album, but also a great night for others to discover some of the most important music of its time.”

June 14, 2016
Hearing Aide: Devon Allman ‘Ragged and Dirty’

Life on the road, the sights in the rearview mirror and the hard lessons learned along the way, Devon Allman and his latest album Ragged and Dirty is the perfect soundtrack to crank on the speakers over a nice long summer road trip, perhaps one marked with a few stops at some biker bars and dives.

Devon Allman’s latest album “Ragged & Dirty” debuted at #4 on the Billboard Blues Charts upon its release on Ruf Recording last October.

Raised in Texas by his mother, Shelley, he did not meet his famous father, Gregg Allman, until he was 16 years old. Now 43, he’s been touring nationally and has released eight albums with bands including Honeytribe and Royal Southern Band.

Ragged and Dirty, Allman’s third solo work, debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard Blues Charts upon its release on Ruf Records last October. It’s produced by Grammy winner Tom Hambridge, who also co-wrote three songs on the album. Allman shakes the dust off his father’s signature style of guitar-driven blues and rock and infuses it with his own modern, hard-hitting licks and powerful lyrics in this latest incarnation.

You can almost feel the grit in your teeth throughout this professional, polished album, which runs the gamut of styles from country roots in track one, “Half the Truth,” to blues and rock n’ roll with a slight edge of funkiness in the album’s title track 11, “Ragged and Dirty.” Get lost in the soulful, sultry steam guitar-laden sixth track, “Midnight Lake Michigan,” and then find yourself in the honky-tonk stylings of track 10, “Times Have Changed.”

A highlight for me was track number three, “Leavin’,” which reminds me of a mix of Joe Cocker and the Allman Brothers Band in a song about running away from the same old problems and falling into old routines. A solid rock n’ roll journey with heartfelt lyrics, it’s a great song for a road trip without a destination.

The seventh tune, “Ten Million Slaves,” a song about the journey and trials faced by millions of slaves as they were ripped from their homeland and brought to America to be sold, came as a timely surprise as the original A&E mini-series “Roots” recently aired on television.

Track 10, “Times Have Changed,” is a good reminder to stay relevant and not get caught up in looking back on the past and making up your mind to change things. As the lyrics note, “I’d do anything you say, and now there ain’t no way/ That was yesterday, and times have changed/You’ve got to pick and choose, and I was bound to lose, but I’ve got some news for you, times have changed.”

Track 12, “Leave the City,” is the perfect way to wrap up this album, with Allman’s soothingly familiar voice gently commingled with sounds of a resonator guitar seeping through to wash you clean, as you leave the dirty city for land of riversides and mountain tops.

It’s clear this an album inspired by life on the road. To steal a line from the fifth song, “a road runner baby, Citadel platinum frequent flier,” Allman brings his tour to New York with a June 15 show at Iron Works in Buffalo, at the Wescott Theater in Syracuse on June 16 and Albany’s Empire State Plaza on June 29. Catch him before he travels on.

Key Tracks: Times Have Changed, Midnight Lake Michigan, Leave the City

June 11, 2016
Charley Orlando Unveils Summer Tour Dates
Charley Orlando, the folk-rock singer-songwriter from Glenville, will perform across Central New York this summer.

The artist released the dates of his upcoming shows this week. He will perform solo at Funk n’ Waffles in downtown Syracuse at 8 p.m. Sunday, June 12. Tim Herron will also play that night.

The following weekend, Orlando is scheduled to perform at Cortland Beer Company in Cortland and Art on the Porches in Syracuse on Friday, June 17 and Saturday, June 18, respectively. In the Friday show, the singer will be joined, as he often is, by the musicians of his band RUHA.

One of Orlando’s other projects — Pearly Baker’s Best, a Syracuse-based Grateful Dead tribute band — will play twice this summer. The group will be at Funk n’ Waffles on Saturday, July 9, as part of Hippie Ball II before appearing at Ray Brother’s BBQ in Bouckville for the Jerry Garcia Celebration on Friday, Aug. 5.

Orlando has released 13 albums, most recently StarSeed in 2014. On his website, Orlando refers to the album as “an unconventional recording style creating rhythmic patterns and atmospheric layers in Ableton Live first, before adding guitar, harmonica, and finally vocals to each track.”

Charley Orlando summer 2016 tour dates:
- June 3 — Taste of Syracuse, Syracuse, NY — 5:45 p.m. (RUHA)
- June 4 — Maxwells, Syracuse, NY — 7 p.m. (solo)
- June 10 — Old City Hall, Oswego, NY — 7 p.m. (solo)
- June 12 — Funk n’ Waffles, Syracuse, NY — 8 p.m. (solo)
- June 17 — Cortland Beer Company, Cortland, NY — 8 p.m. (RUHA)
- June 18 — Art on the Porches, Syracuse, NY — 11 a.m. (solo)
- July 9 — Hippie Ball II, Funk n’ Waffles, Syracuse, NY — 8 p.m. (Pearly Baker’s Best)
- July 31 — KMASE & Cones, The Ice Cream Stand, North Syracuse, NY — 12 p.m. (solo)
- August 5 — Jerry Garcia Celebration, Ray Brother’s BBQ, Bouckville, NY — 8 p.m. (Pearly Baker’s Best)
- August 13 — SeedStock VIII, Cortland, NY — 12 p.m. (RUHA)
https://youtu.be/dUGkf-meigY
June 4, 2016
Daemon Chili to Tour This Summer

Massachusetts-based American Roots Rock quintet Daemon Chili is hitting the road this summer in support of their sophomore album released earlier this year, titled Mercy of the Sea.

Their 10-city tour is set to start June 3 in New Hampshire before trekking though New York with two stops in SaranacLake and Syracuse following shortly after. Their tour wraps up at Arlene’s Grocery in New York City on Oct. 8.

Daemon Chili is made up of five members including singer Michael Dion (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) formerly of Hot Day at the Zoo, Steve Benson (pedal steel, electric mandolin), Jason Moretti (lead guitar), Jay Breen (drums) and Jason Samiagio (bass). The group formed in the fall of 2013 and quickly hit the studio to begin recording. Their first album, titled Rise Up, was released in 2014 to great reviews of their transition from acoustic string band to a roots rock force.

Mercy of the Sea details provided by the bands website:

The band’s second album, Mercy of the Sea (2016), is Daemon Chili’s first official full-length studio effort, which peaked out at number 5 on the Relix/Jambands.com Radio charts. This album marks the band’s unquestionable metamorphosis into a musical outfit that truly defies genre categorization. The album also features a myriad of additional musicians whose talents help to round out a sophisticated musical juggernaut that heaves up-and-down with purpose and intention. The lineup includes Max Chase (Amulus) on keys; Nick Heys (Hot Day at the Zoo) on piano; Seth Bailin, Mike Kaskiewicz, Alex Allman (The Party Band) on horns; and Jes Sheldon (The Lightkeepers) on backing vocals.

June 3 – Manchester, NH @ Shaskeen

June 17 – Saranac Lake, NY @ The Waterhole

June 18 – Syracuse, NY @ Funk N Waffles Downtown

June 23 – Portsmouth, NH @ Thirsty Moose

July 1 – Peterborough, NH @ Harlow’s Pub

July 30 – Lowell, MA @ Dudley’s

Aug 12 – Worceter, MA @ Beatnik’s

Aug 22 – Portsmouth, NH @ The Players’ Ring

Aug 26 – Waterville, ME @ Mainely Brews

Aug 27 – Old Town, ME @ The Boomhouse

Oct 8 – New York, NY @ Arlene’s Grocery

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=–AtlxiYp3w[/embedyt]

May 20, 2016
The Temperance Movement Premieres ‘White Bear’ Video, Announces Tour

This summer, English rockers the Temperance Movement will debut the sophomore album, White Bear, followed by a headlining tour.

The five-member outfit kick off the July run at the Ride Festival in Telluride, Colorado, and are scheduled to make stops at Lost Horizon in Syracuse, Mercury Lounge in New York City and Underground Arts in Philadelphia before the tour closes in Detroit. And on May 15, the group exclusively premiered the video for the record’s title track via Loudwire.

The three-minute video was the creation of noted photographer and director Steven Sebring, who used his signature “revolution system” camera techniques to produce a stunning visual manipulation of time and light. Sebring also created the album’s cover image “of a girl and a bear, interlaid and overlapping in magical realism” inspired by Fyodor Dostoevsky’s essay, Winter Notes on Summer Impressions.

The rising rock band that includes vocalist Phil Campbell, bassist Nick Fyffe, drummer Damon Wilson and guitarists Paul Sayer and Matt White. Although bearing the same name as the prohibitionist social movement of the 1900s, the Temperance Movement is not straightedge when it comes to gritty rock and roll. They have opened for heavyweight acts like the Rolling Stones, and this summer, the group shares the Ride Festival bill with Pearl Jam and Cage the Elephant, among others.

White Bear officially drops July 15 via Fantasy Records, but is available for pre-order now via iTunes and Amazon. If you want to see them live, scan the dates here or below to see if the Temperance Movement is coming to a venue near you.

The Temperance Movement summer 2016 tour:

7/9-10 – Ride Festival – Telluride, CO
7/12 – Marquis Theatre – Denver, CO
7/14 – Bottom Lounge – Chicago, IL
7/15 – Limelight – Peoria, IL
7/16 – The Stache at Intersection – Grand Rapids, MI
7/18 – Lost Horizon – Syracuse, NY
7/19 – Mercury Lounge – New York, NY
7/20 – Underground Arts – Philadelphia, PA
7/22 – A&R Music Bar – Columbus, OH
7/23 – The Shelter at Saint Andrews Hall – Detroit, MI

May 18, 2016
Snarky Puppy and Sophistafunk Drop Jaws at the Landmark Theatre

A fitted crew neck sweater and scarf might evoke an air of jazzy inclination, but Snarky Puppy’s Michael League can also adeptly discuss his intricate technical knowledge of music composition like an old pro. During an intimate pre-show mentoring session at the Landmark Theatre Thursday May 5, the composer and bassist divulged snippets of his process for composing to a group of drooling fans and fellow musicians, including members from local funk group Casaroja. Cherie Yurco, editor of both Making Music Magazine and International Musician launched the session with a few questions before opening the floor to the young audience.

The clattering of equipment echoed throughout the extravagant, high ceiling theater, muffling League’s voice as he discussed the complexities of collaborating in a collective of over twenty rotating musicians. “It’s a lot of personalities,” he divulged with a thoughtful smile. But Snarky Puppy has a knack for attracting talented, down-to-earth musicians who are easy to work with, something League doesn’t take for granted. Regarding the success of Snarky Puppy, League paraphrased a Malcolm Gladwell quote suggesting, success is based not just on talent, but on circumstances, which for League breaks down to an assemblage of the right people at the right time. Despite an abundance of talent, Snarky Puppy was not an overnight success, spending nearly the first decade of its existence in the red. League explained humbly, “It’s hard to go to bed every night knowing you’re failing.” But a love of experimenting and playing with sound kept an ember glowing, which eventually ignited into the international success the band is today.

Aside from good chemistry, producing quality music is a function of truly understanding methodology of music composition. When asked about his writing process for “Flood,” League referred to himself as a “concept fiend,” offering a textbook response in the truest sense of the word. Where some musicians might disregard the cliched, blanket question with a humdrum and vague reply, League got real technical, real quick. Discussing dividing whole tones and cord progressions with no roots, he began to sound more like a mathematician than a musician. The explanation left many audience members wide eyed, mouths agape and reaching into their pockets for pen and paper to take note, an omen of things to come for Snarky Puppy’s impending performance.

Local funk group Sophistafunk opened the show, the four members aligned stage left on the vast platform, producing a heavy, heart pounding sound bigger than the sum of its parts. The recent addition of Tommy Weeks on saxophone heightened the sophistication of their grooves beyond what Jack Brown (vocals) Adam Gold (keys/bass/vocals) and Emanuel Washington (drums) have done in the past.

Gold took a moment between songs to praise the headliner, relishing in the honor of opening for the renowned group, beaming “We remember getting our faces melted right off our faces by Snarky Puppy.” Towards the end of their set, percussionist Nate Werth joined Sophistafunk with a snappy cowbell performance over Washington’s shoulder, who every so often glanced back at Werth, exchanging wide smiles.

The compelling, non-circular momentum of Snarky Puppy’s brand immediately took hold of the room as soon as the first notes were struck. Werth, relocated to the left rear, conjured his percussive effects from a vast arsenal of noise-making tools, keeping rhythm on a glistening metallic setup wobbling on stage with every beat. Joined by fellow percussionist Jason “JT” Thomas, Caleb McCampbell and Shaun Martin (keys), Justin Stanton (keys/trumpet), Jay Jennings and Michael “Maz” Maher (trumpet), Chris Bullock (sax/flute) and Bob Lanzetti (guitar), the ten-man lineup littered the room with musicianship that didn’t clutter the sound despite the hefty crew. Every instrument retained a right to be on stage, emitting purposeful sound and adding style. Even amidst the medley of notes, disciplined silences punctuated songs with a finessed restraint, demonstrating mastery of navigating crucial white space, allowing the audience short moments to catch their breath.

Leading the musical expedition, League remained hyper aware of every musician around him, maintaining eye contact with his peers, and smiling throughout the entire performance. His hearty grin exhibited not only a true pride for the talent of his band mates, but also the sheer joy of honing a craft and getting to do what he loves every single day. With two encores, both met with a standing ovation, it’s clear Snarky Puppy has made it.

May 13, 2016
Show Review: Baroness and Youth Code at The Lost Horizon

This past week was truly a memorable night of music at the famed Lost Horizon. Baroness who is currently on tour in support of their new album “Purple” made a stop in Syracuse on Wednesday night. Joining Baroness was break out Industrial punk duo from Los Angeles, Youth Code. What separates Youth Code from modern industrial bands is that they use instruments and not computers to generate their “industrial” sound. It was a very unique experience. I expect that they will continue to rapidly grow their fan base based on what I heard.

Baroness played a very moving and intense set. The set included mostly selections off their current album “Purple” such as “Kerosene,” “Chlorine and Wine” and one that I really wanted to hear: “Desperation Burns.” The band played a very heavy set before concluding with an encore of “Take My Bones Away” leaving the crowd wanting more!

One thing I enjoy about attending shows other than live music is getting the opportunity to collaborate with other photographers. Please enjoy the selection of photos that were taken by Cathy Bechle of NYS Music and myself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoBWAIKkopM

May 12, 2016
Buckethead Has Returned: Westcott Theater Performance Coming May 3

After four long years of waiting, fans of Buckethead finally have the chance to see him live once again. The man who sports the white mask and bucket on his head is coming to the Westcott Theater this Tuesday, May 3. Tickets are on sale for $25 and are available at the door.

For those who may not know who Buckethead is, he’s a guitarist who can practically play anything. Buckethead is a guitar virtuoso who covers many different genres including metal, funk, classical and more. Starting in the late ’80s and learning from the great Paul Gilbert, Buckethead has been attached to his guitar ever since. Bucket’s first solo album, Bucketheadland, came out in 1992, and that’s where the journey began.

Since 1992, Buckethead has released 264 studio albums. The lineup of musicians that Bucket has worked with is extensive as well. That list includes Bootsy Collins, Iggy Pop, Les Claypool, Serj Tankian of System of a Down, Mike Patton and many more. Buckethead was also the lead guitar player for Guns N’ Roses from 2000 to 2004. The long-awaited Guns N’ Roses album Chinese Democracy features Buckethead on all but two tracks.

Not only does Buckethead play guitar, but he is also a fantastic bass player, a talent which he displays at his live shows as well. Watching Buckethead play live will certainly leave everyone in the audience in a daze. For those who think watching a guy play guitar for over an hour straight may be boring, Buckethead will certainly prove them wrong. Complete with dance moves, nunchucks and toy giveaways, Tuesday’s show is sure to be one to remember from Buckethead.

Although his official website hasn’t been updated, Buckethead has an entire tour planned for the next few months. For those interested in seeing Bucket’s show, the Westcott Theater is the only place to see him in New York except for his show at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill on May 7. The rest of the dates can be found at this link.

To purchase tickets to the show this Tuesday, visit the Westcott Theater website.

May 1, 2016